When ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred reached South-East Queensland last week, the damage and displacement was seen throughout the region, including at dozens of golf clubs and facilities. While the clean-up has been arduous, and, at many clubs, still on-going, golfers are officially back on the fairways at most of the affected locations.

Significant damage and power outages are possible in the densely populated region of Queensland, where tropical cyclones impacts are not uncommon but direct landfalls are.

But while authorities have been warning residents to stay indoors as Cyclone Alfred approaches, die-hard surfers have been throwing caution to the increasing wind. "This is what we look forward to," said Jeff Weatherall as he waited for a jet ski to pick him up from Kirra beach and carry him into the big waves.